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Regulators

Regulators for compressed air.

Compressed air regulators are necessary in compressed air applications for a number of reasons.

If the details below don't provide sufficient information for you, feel free to ask a question about compressed air regulators via the form at the bottom of this page.

’Compressed
Your compressor's cut out pressure may be at 150 PSI or even higher. Not too many air-using applications require a compressed air supply at that pressure level, so you would use an air regulator to reduce the downstream air pressure to the desired level.

What they do?


Regulators are devices that are used to change the pressure coming from the compressor receiver in all, or just part of, a downstream compressed air system, depending on where you install them.

For example, you can have the main air regulator (the one at the compressor tank) set for 120 PSI (30 PSI less than your tank pressure) and used the 120 PSI to feed the air main.

Then, at each application where compressed air is to be used, you can install another air regulator to further reduce the air pressure to the right level for just that application.

Unidirectional


Compressed air is normally meant to travel through an air regulator in one direction only. That direction is commonly shown somewhere on the unit with an arrow.

The regulator will usually have an air gauge which visibly indicates the air pressure on the downstream side of the unit, and usually displaying the set point that was dialed in with the adjusting knob or nut.

How They Work


’Compressed
For the sake of simplicity, I have not included a gauge in the drawing above, nor have I included the detail of the actual internals of a regulator which are more complex than shown.

The inner components of a regulator act very quickly, increasing or decreasing the flow so that the downstream pressure remains fairly constant. The accuracy of pressure downstream is directly related to the quality of the regulator.

Regulators Only Lower Pressure


Regulators in compressed air systems can only lower the pressure.

Dialing the pressure up past the supply line pressure can not increase the downstream pressure past the supply pressure level, despite how many times you turn the knob!

Compressed air is a fluid. Pressure exerted at any one point in the closed system will be transmitted equally throughout the entire system.

Pulse Dampeners


Each time your compressor cycles on, whether “kicking in” due to low receiver pressure or the cycling of the pilot unloader valve on a continuous run compressor, it starts building pressure in the system receiver and lines again, and that sudden increase in pressure will generate a pressure-pulse in the compressed air throughout all your lines in the plant. This may be negative to the application.

Having a receiver will dampen the pulse somewhat, but not entirely.

If the set points on your compressor are 120 PSI on the high side, and 100 PSI on the low side, and you set your pressure regulator for 90 PSI going into your application, in theory that application should never see a pressure fluctuation, regardless of how many times the compressor kicks in or out. This has benefits in terms of regular cycling of actuators etc.

The exception to this will be if the demand for compressed air outstrips the ability of the compressor to supply it. When this occurs, the available air pressure will continue to fall past the regulator setting, and the air supply in the lines to the application will, too, see the pressure start to fall. When demand stops, air pressure will start to build, and a pressure-pulse can occur in the lines until the pressure is up past the regulator set point.



Save Money


Another benefit of a regulator, and why you'd want many throughout the system, is that by adjusting the pressure down to the lowest functioning level at each air-using application, you can save many dollars in compressed air generation cost.

It is not common knowledge, but it is fact, that as an energy source, compressed air one of the most expensive.

Relieving / Non-Relieving


Regulators can be relieving or non-relieving, depending on your application.

If you were regulating the pressure of a noxious or expensive gas, you'd select a non-relieving unit to prevent off-gassing of that poisonous gas into the plant atmosphere through the regulator.

Most industrial systems use a relieving regulator, which means that if the downstream pressure exceeded the pressure setting on the regulator, then the higher downstream pressure would be allowed to vent or 'relieve' to the atmosphere back through the regulator.

Types


General purpose regulators can be expected to maintain a pressure level within plus or minus 2-5 PSI range on average.

Precision regulators can usually hold a line pressure within plus or minus 1/2 - 1 1/2 PSI of the set point.

Larger pressure regulators can be air-piloted and slaved to smaller, remotely installed, regulators.

’Regulator
Regulators can be supplied with accessories such as locks, with or without gauges, are available in an electronic form and in a host of configurations.

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Other questions and answers...

See below for other questions and answers...




Relieving / Non-Relieving Questions  starstarstarstarstar
I have several regulators in my shop. I have some that bleed off the air if you lower the downside pressure. I have some that DO NOT bleed off the pressure ...

Air Regulator WITH Pressure Switch for On-Board-Air set up / Air Horns & Aux Air ...  starstarstarstarstar
Hi Bill, I've got a Viair 150 PSI compressor, a 110-145 psi pressure switch and a 2 gallon tank with a Regulator for the air-horns. I've experimented ...

Compressed air regulator  starstarstarstarstar
The knob on my Husky 6 gal. pancake compressor model 1506 has gone bad. When you try to increase pressure it pops out. I am looking for replacement part....

model 4ZM12   starstarstarstarstar
WHEN PRESSURE IS INTRODUCED IT BLOWS OUT FROM THE
THE BOTTOM.
_______________________
Bill says....

Hey, Peter, there's no need to shout! :-)

If ...

Regulator affects air flow as well as pressure  starstarstarstarstar
I am using a pressure regulator on top of a fluid pot for spraying lacquer, sealer, etc. I connect the air line to the inlet port and the accessory air ...

Air compressor regulator  starstarstarstarstar
I installed an air compressor regulator and the needle will not stay at the set position eg. 60 psi, it moves up to the total psi of the tank which is ...

Relieving air regulator relieves continuosly the lower I set the air pressure.  starstarstarstarstar
I have a Quincy air compressor which provides 170psi out of the tank. I also have a Quincy air dryer after the compressor followed by 2 air filters and ...

My 125 PSI air compressor won't fill my tires up to 30PSI.  starstarstarstarstar
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bostitch air compressor regulator pressure  starstarstarstarstar
Hi,

I just bought the bostitch CAP60PB-OF air compressor. when I turn it on, the compressor pressure works fine and goes up to 120-150psi. but the regulator ...

Adjusting Air Pressure  starstarstarstarstar
Have a Ingersoll-Rand 4000 air compressor that I can't adjust the air pressure using the Knob. Is there another way to adjust air pressure?



Bill ...

AIR REGULATOR PLACEMENT?  Not rated yet
Do you locate it between the tank and dryer or the dryer and the line in to the system.

__________________________
Bill says...

Since the regulator'...

Will an air regulator blow up a tank lesss compressor?  Not rated yet
Hi, I got a tank-less, oil-less (Old PUMA model)compressor with a minimum of 75 psi.
I want to use it on my airbrush, so I needed to reduce the air pressure,...

Choosing proper regulator/filter for air system  Not rated yet
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Compressor wont hold air  Not rated yet
I have an interesting problem. When I start my up right craftsman compressor everything works fine. EXCEPT my regulator. It can be turned all the way ...

Air regulator builds pressure slowly  Not rated yet
26 gallon tank fills to 155psi and air regulator also reads 155psi when fully open. while using blow gun air pressure reading on regulator drops down ...

Cant find the regulator screw ~ how to adjust?  Not rated yet
How do I adjust the regulator?

_______________________________
Bill says...

I'm trying to understand what it is about your regulator, without ...

Regulator leaks  Not rated yet
i have a black cat model #bc2520 6 gal air compressor. there are no parts available from RMM Corp. the regulator leaks. the pressor guages are not attached ...

CRN (Canadian Registration Number)  Not rated yet
I am looking for Compressed air pressure regulators which are CRN (Canadian Registration Number) Registered for Alberta.

Compressed air characteristics:...

Compressor fills tank, but no air going to the regulator  Not rated yet
I have a fairly new, seldom used 6 gallon porter cable pancake compressor. Today I turned it on and filled the tank to approx 100 psi. When I turned ...

Pressure Regulators - Can they increase flow ?  Not rated yet
Hi Bill,

Pressure Regulators - Can they be used to reduce or increase flow, depending on inlet-outlet pressure?

e.g. I have a system that requires ...

Need a air regulator   Not rated yet
for a model 3z322301

______________________
Bill says...

While I know it's easy to exchange a failed regulator with one of exactly the same brand,...

low psi in a G-Force 2hp , 21L  Not rated yet
Gday from OZ,
i have a G-Force brand air compressor 2hp with 21L tank.
Purchased about 5 years ago ,and occasionally used.
Im hoping to use it with ...

Gauge is set for 30 psi; after 30 minutes it shows 10 psi?  Not rated yet
This is on a laminator in our shop. There are three separate regulators. The one in question is for the nip roller pressure. We always keep it at 30 psi....

I'm fairly sure if this is normal, but just in case...  Not rated yet
Basically, I'll have my regulator set to about 20 PSI, and then I'll let the pressure escape through my blowgun, and the needle on the regulator drops ...

I need a regulator that is adjustable between 40 psi and 70 psi.  Not rated yet
I need a regulator that is adjustable between 40 psi and 70 psi. I have done my research on how much pressure it is ok to put threw my application and ...

pressure regulator leak  Not rated yet
leak around the shaft of the built-in pressure regulator on my 32 year old craftsman 1 hp. Haven't taken it apart yet. Could it be an oring?

_______________________
...

Regulator Leaks Air  Not rated yet
I have a Sears Craftsman 919.165250 and the regulator is leaking air, I can adjust it a little, one way or the othe, and slow the leak but not stop it ...

REGULATOR INLET/OUTLET SIZES  Not rated yet
IF THE INLET TO YOUR REGULATOR IS 1/2" NPT SHOULD THE OUTLET BE THE SAME? mOST THAT IV'E LOOKED AT ORE 1/2 X 1/4

___________________
Bill says...

Hi ...

My regulators leak is there a way to fix this?  Not rated yet
We have lots of regulaters and air sources in the building and some of them are just fine. But there are others that are leaking out of the regulators....

Air Regulators   Not rated yet
I just bought a used 2hp/6 gal Bostitch portable air compressor and I noticed when I picked it up there was no regulator. I am just a diy guy and may use ...

Need to reduce 110lb air to 15 lb air on a tow behind compressor  Not rated yet
We are blowing 5" electrical conduit to clear out debris and water. The device we are inserting into the conduit recomends 15lb air max.

_______________
...

Brand new regulator does not work  Not rated yet
I have tried to regulate the air pressure after compressor Ingersoll- Rand 2545. The pressure after the compressor vary between 160-180 PSI. I am trying ...

Further question on relieving regulator  Not rated yet
Sirs:

Our air conpressor's tank has a on timed autodrain connected to the bottom to remove condensation. At the end of the day, the compressor is shut ...

One gallon cage compressor has output regulator problems  Not rated yet
I just purchased a new small compressor which is set to shut off at 125 lbs psi.

It has two gauges. The compressor shuts off okay at 125 psi, but ...

Air cut off switch  Not rated yet
which direction do you turn adjustment screw to decrease pressure

______________
Bill says...

That's an interesting question, right up there with ...

i cant turn my regulator valve  Not rated yet
having got my compressor tank up to pressure (8 bar).
i cant adjust the regulator valve to the pressure i need,it wont budge. i also got an air intake ...

I have a tank and compressor with afailed regulator  Not rated yet
Can I completely remove the regulator and replace it with another? There are 2 gauges. It is difficult for me to tell where they monitor the air. The compressor ...

Regulator will not control amount of air received from air compressor  Not rated yet
I have tried to regulate the amount of air pressure on the paint canister and it will not lower the pressure ....do I need another regulator.....the gauge ...

air comrpessor regulation   Not rated yet
How do I regulate to get two different outputs from my compressor? I need one at 40 psi for running a foam brush and I would like to have another higher ...

Regulator won't hold set pressure  Not rated yet
Hi I am wondering if there is a regulator that can take a tank that has about 100-120 psi and only let out 8-10 psi to the application. I need only a slight ...

i replaced my regulator on my compressor and it still wont shut off at disered pressure  Not rated yet
its a 30 gallon craftsman,it will build pressure so there isnt a problem there,i assumed that the regulator was bad because it wont quit running.The regulator ...

Adjust air pressure  Not rated yet
Hello, I have a Gardner-Denver tow-behind gas compressor (Waukesha 4 cyl)/mid-80's. The output is appr. 70 PSI: I would like to know to to increase the ...

My compressor doesn't seem to power my die Grinder  Not rated yet
I have a Sears compressor with a 5 gal tank. It used to run my grinder for sanding etc but now it stops with the least of resistance. I bought another ...

Compressor gains pressure (about 20 lbs) then quickly drops back down to about 5 lbs.  Not rated yet
My regulator has a red ring at the bottom that I originally thought WAS the regulator. So I began rotating it back and forth, not noticing any change ...

I have to fix/lock my air output at 90 PSI do they make one that is fixed?  Not rated yet
I have a shop with 15 know it alls in the pit.

Someone keeps changing the air out put level on our compressor.I would like to LOCK it at 90PSI.Do you ...

How does a non relieving regulator maintain constant downstream pressure?   Not rated yet
I would have thought that the setting of the poppet would mean that there will be a continuous flow from the upstream to the downstream, and downstream ...

Reverse Suction  Not rated yet
We operate a dental clinic in a remote part of Mexico. While we were in the middle of a procedure, I went to use suction to remove blood from a patient'...

Adjusting air pressure  Not rated yet
i have a horizontal speedaire 10 hp two stage compressor 2007 serial # 1451673.how do i adjust the air pressure?



Bill says...

The cut in ...

One gallon mastercraft cage compressor with regulator problem  Not rated yet
I started the compressor and after breaking it in as specified in the operating manual, I found I cannot adjust the output air (pressure) at all.

The ...

Regulator for garage sale air compressor  Not rated yet
I just got an old belt driven Sears 100 PSI, 7.5 gallon air compressor (model 106.171142) at a garage sale. I'm putting a new regulator on it. My question ...

Air Velocity  Not rated yet
Another question Bill
When a pressure regulator is used to adjust air pressure, does that also adjust the air velocity?



Bill answers...

Howdy!...

How to set up a regulator.  Not rated yet
A regulator is a device that is used to change the pressure in the air line downstream from itself.

If the pressure coming into the regulator from the ...





Did you know that...

"Optimization of compressed air systems can provide energy efficiency improvements of 20 to 50 percent."

Source: http://www.eere.energy.gov


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